Question: What do you think about the new earlier dates for the Tupelo winter market?
By Furniture Today Staff -- Furniture Today, February 5, 2007
"All of the Sunday markets are gone. That worked best for me. We would work the markets Saturday to Monday and benefit from weekend rates. The majors work the markets midweek but they have expense accounts. I don't."
Peter Makris, Harrison Connor Chattanooga, Tenn.
"As a designer, it's better for me when all the shows fall at about the same time so I can get out and compare. It's better for me to shop them one right after the other."
Shirley Makris, Elizabeth Ryan Furniture Gallery, Chattanooga, Tenn.
"I understand the purpose is to knock the dates back a little bit before tax returns come back. We have a credit store and I think it's going to rejuvenate the business after Christmas. It's never too soon."
Speedy Calvert, Winston Furniture, Louisville, Miss.
"I am going into accessories pretty heavily now but the Atlanta accessories show is this week. So, instead of shopping here two days, I'll be here one day and I am headed to Atlanta tomorrow for two days. The traffic here was great, however, because it was not crowded."
Darrell Personal, Personal Expressions, Memphis, Tenn.
"It's good. It's before tax time. There's a lot of bargains right now. It's got its goods and its bads. Last year there were some bad quarters. Everyone's trying to work with everyone right now and we're expecting a better year this year."
Butch Smith, Unclaimed Furniture, Hattiesburg, Miss.
"It's a little too early for me. In January I'm trying to get my stores off the ground and going."
Ed Gray, Waterfront Bargain Center, Pensacola, Fla.
"To me they're fine. It works with my schedule. We'll get back when the market's over and in on Saturday. The date change really didn't matter to me."
Cyndi McElmurry, The Furniture Store, Cabot, Ark.
"I was pleased with the change. In mid-February, we're too busy to come here. In the beginning of January, it's not too busy that you can't get away. More people in February and March get their tax refunds. In January most haven't gotten their tax returns filed yet."
Tommie Vaughn, Wholesale Furniture, Jackson, Miss.
